Chapter 26

1. Chapter 26 Section 1: The World of Islam

2. LEQ (s) • What are the basic teachings of Islam? • Why did Islam spread rapidly? • Why did Islam split into different branches? • What were some achievements of Islamic civilization? • Define hejira, hajj, and caliph.

3. Background History • Muhammad grew up in a time of violence and lawlessness • Troubled by evil and corruption, he often withdrew to a cave to fast and pray • According to Muslim belief, one day, while praying, Muhammad heard a voice call out, telling him to “Proclaim.” • The voice was from the angel Gabriel sent by God. • Muhammad was to be a prophet of God

4. Background History cont. • Muhammad was encouraged by his wife Khadija, to tell people about the religion of Islam • The words Gabriel spoke to Muhammad over the next 12 years become the Koran (also written Qur’an), the holy book of Islam. • In the 600s and 700s A.D., Islam spread across the Middle East and beyond, into Africa, Asia, and Europe

6. The Rise of Islam • Islam emerged in the Arabian Peninsula, which is a crossroads for trade • The city of Mecca and Yathrib (later renamed Medina) were two important trade cities in the area • Mecca was home to the Kaaba, a sacred shrine that housed many images of Arab gods • Many pilgrims came to the area to worship as well • The Kaaba housed a sacred Black stone, that Arabs believed was sent from heaven

7. from http://www.sitesatlas.com/Maps/Maps/604r.htm

8. The prophet Muhammad • Muhammad was born in Mecca in 570 (A.D) • His parents died when he was a child and he was raised by an uncle • As a young man he worked for a wealthy widow named Khadija • He lead trade caravans across the desert to Palestine and Syria. At 25 he married Khadija.

9. The prophet Muhammad cont. • At age 40, Muhammad heard the voice of Gabriel and was told to “proclaim” • Khadija encouraged Muhammad to teach the word of God • Muhammad’s message angered the town’s merchants and innkeepers because they believed that giving up their traditional gods would end their pilgrim traffic • The pagan shop keepers believed that this would eventually hurt their profits • 622 A.D. – after Khadija’s death, Muhammad and his followers were forced to leave Mecca • Muhammad was accepted in Yathrib, which was renamed Medina, or “city of the prophet” • The migration of Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina is known as the hejira • the hejira represents the first year in the Muslim calendar • Muhammad and his followers returned to Medina in 630 A.D. • His army recaptured the city and rededicated the black stone to God • By 632 A.D., Muhammad had carried Islam across the Arabian Peninsula

10. Teachings of Islam • Islam means “submission”, a Muslim is someone who submits to God • The Five Pillars of Islam are • 1. the belief in one God, and Muhammad is his prophet (Abraham, Moses, and Jesus are also important prophets in Islam) • 2. Prayer, five times a day facing Mecca • 3. Charity • 4. Fasting in the Holy month of Ramadan • 5. Hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca

12. The Koran • The sacred book of Islam is the Koran (Qu’ran) • For a period of time, the Koran was forbidden to be translated from Arabic • Arabic became a universal language, which united Muslims around the world • Muhammad met many Jews and Christians on his travels. All three religions are monotheistic. • Muhammad believes that Allah is the same God of the Jews and Christians • All three of the religions believe in a final day of judgment • Muhammad accepted the original teachings of the Jewish and Christian scriptures as God’s word. He called Jews and Christians “people of the book” and they had a special status as “protected people.” Muslims were required to treat them with tolerance. • Like Judaism and Christianity, Islam has values such as honoring your parents, being honest and kind, protecting the weak and helpless, and that all people are equal

13. Expansion of Islam • In the next century after Muhammad’s death, the Muslim Arabs had conquered an empire that reached from the Indus River to the Atlantic Ocean (732 A.D.) • The Muslim armies were extremely successful due to their united beliefs • Islam taught that Muslim warriors who died in the service of Islam would win a place in paradise • The idea of Jihad also motivated many Muslim soldiers • The lure of riches to be won in the conquered lands was another powerful incentive

14. Other reasons of Success • In some places, the Arabs were welcomed • The Byzantine and Persian empires ruled diverse peoples who resented foreign control • The Arabs were sometimes looked upon as liberators • The Islamic belief of equality was appealing to people as well • The Muslims were tolerant conquerors and they did not force “people of the book” to convert to Islam • However, they had to pay a special “nonbeliever tax”

15. Divisions with Islam • 30 years after Muhammad’s death, a serious dispute permanently split Islam into two separate branches: the Sunni and Shiite • The dispute concerned who would become caliph or successor to the prophet • The fourth caliph after Muhammad was named Ali (Muhammad’s cousin and son-in-law) • In 661, Ali was murdered and a rival leader established the Umayyad dynasty • Ali’s son challenged the Umayyad and he too was murdered • These murders caused the followers of Ali, the Shiites, to break away • The Shiites claimed that only descendants of Ali could become caliphs • The majority of Muslims are Sunni and they believe that any devout Muslim could become a caliph

16. The Arab Empire • Under the Umayyads and Abbasisds, the Arab Empire enjoyed periods of stable, orderly government • Umayyad dynasty – (661-750), made Damascus, Syria the capital of their empire • Arabs held the highest government positions and Arabic was the official language of the empire • Non-Arab Muslims, such as the Persians resented the discrimination • Muslim Persians insisted that being a Muslim is more important that being Arab • 750 A.D., the Shiites and other groups overthrew the Umayyads and set up the Abbassid dynasty

17. Abbassid Dynasty (750 -1258) • The new capital was made at Baghdad (means “God-given”) on the banks of the Tigris rivers • Known for their public work projects such as mosques, irrigation systems, libraries, hospitals, public baths, and schools. • Abbassid dynasty lasted roughly 500 years despite some kingdoms that broke away • Despite political divisions, religion and culture united the peoples of the Muslim world

18. Golden Age of Muslim Civilization • Blended cultures of Greek, Persian, and Indian • They traded as far as Scandinavia, East Africa, and China • Muslims started business practices such as issuing letters of credit and receipts, which are later adopted by Europeans • 830 A.D., Muslim scholar Al-Mamun set up a library of ancient texts from around the known world • Muslim scholars have preserved many subjects for European use such as medical information, astronomy, music, poetry, and philosophy.